Story: Eating

Māori man eating, 1861

Māori man eating, 1861

Māori traditionally ate with their hands but incorporated Pākehā utensils and equipment into their eating practices in the 19th century. Here a man called Watikini is eating a potato with one hand but grasping a spoon in the other. He is also using a plate.  

Using this item

Alexander Turnbull Library
Reference: E-041-046
Pencil and ink drawing by James Coutts Crawford

Permission of the Alexander Turnbull Library, National Library of New Zealand, Te Puna Mātauranga o Aotearoa, must be obtained before any re-use of this image.

All images & media in this story

How to cite this page:

Kerryn Pollock, 'Eating - Table etiquette', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/artwork/38619/maori-man-eating-1861 (accessed 29 March 2024)

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 5 Sep 2013